SPARROWS AREN'T ANXIOUS

The call came. My father-in-law was getting worse. He was in the last stages of cancer and it was time to make plans for my mother-in-law. At the age of 78, her children and their spouses were unwilling to have her live alone after her husband died. She wasn't able to even walk to her mailbox. How would she do laundry? Would she even bother to fix meals for herself?

Some of her children suggested that I and my family relocate 150 miles and move in with her. But that meant our son would have to live with an uncle. It didn't make sense to split up the family. Perhaps she could come live with us. How would that work? Our little house had barely enough bedrooms for the four of us. What to do?

While these questions swirled around unanswered, outside on the clothesline sat a sparrow. He was cocking his head this way and that. It was almost like he was saying, "Don't be anxious, our heavenly Father takes good care of me and He will sort it all out for you. Trust Him."

Look at the birds of the air - they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:26

Heavenly Father, thank You that You teach me in such simple ways about Your kind, compassionate care for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

HOW IS YOUR HEARING?

Recently my son told me about a program he had watched on television which detailed the lives of those who were deaf but, due to modern medicine, could now hear.

I don't know about you, but I assumed - how good, now you can hear and life can go on.

No, that is not what happens. Apparently when one has not been able to hear since birth, it takes extreme effort for them to understand the sounds and language they now are able to hear. Often they must continue to see signing so they understand what is being said. From what researchers are finding, it could take years....

Maybe we should not be so hard on ourselves or on others in the spiritual realm. We were born not being able to hear God's voice for ourselves at all. We needed others to translate to us what He was saying. Then one day we hear Him for ourselves but may be unsure of the sound of His voice, exactly what He is saying, how He is saying it and what we are to do about what He is saying. It will take extreme effort and intense practice at listening to Him to get it right.

And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. I Kinds 19:11-12

Let's not only hear His voice. Let's take extreme measures to hear aright and then to obey.

Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking clearly to me so I can understand what You are saying. Thank You for being so patient with me until I finally 'get it'. Please instill in me the desire to hear You and to obey You. In Jesus' name. Amen

RECEIVING FROM OTHERS

Written last year about this time:

How are you about receiving from others? Horrible? I know that I need some work in that area - the receiving part of it all.

Usually I am the one more than glad to offer rides, a meal, a listening ear but maybe, just maybe, the some recent experiences have been given to bring me to the point of receiving from others without squawking in protest. Here's what happened:

The refrigerator stopped. Dead. Where I live, it is not an option to have it repaired, they just bring you a 'new' one. So, I not only had to stand by to receive a 'new' refrigerator, I had to receive the entire swapping of refrigerators, food out and in, clean-up, the works - received from my son and others who helped because it happened during my work hours.

Soon thereafter my vehicle stopped. Dead. A new battery was needed. Again I stood by as my boss tried to use his jumper cables to no avail, the tow truck man hooked it up, took it away and the mechanic fixed it. Again I received. (Sure it cost but I was the recipient of kindnesses all around.)

Next my vehicle stopped again. Dead. A new radiator was needed. Again offers of help - rides from others, lunch, a tow truck and a mechanic's expertise - that day I received BIG.

Was it over yet? Nope. Next was the stove. Dead. The only thing left running was the clock. No heat came from oven or burners. But I hope that I am learning . . . .

The lessons: Stand still and see the salvation of God which He will work for you this day.
Exodus 14:13

When all fails, receive from the hand of God what He freely offers.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving to me in so many ways. Thank you, also, for letting others be Your hands and feet in this world. Please. when it is my turn to receive, help me to graciously receive - and learn to just say with a grateful heart, "Thank you." In Jesus' name. Amen.

CALL FOR HELP

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the problems in your life? Of course you have. We all have at one time or another.

Sometimes there seem to be so many problems, it feels like we are drowning in them. At home there are problems. At work there are problems. In those you love, problems. In yourself, problems. Being in the middle of the swirling , rising muddy waters of problems is a dangerous place to be. How ever do you get free from it all?

It may be time to call for help. Maybe help should have been called upon before this
. . . long before this. But now you know that it is time and it is as easy as yelling (out loud or quietly in your heart is good) with all your might,
“Help, Heavenly Father, I need Your help.”

If you lack words of your own to call for help, try these:

“Save me, O God, For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.”
Psalm 69:1-3

I love this part - now listen to what happens:

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.
From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

THEN the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked….
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from Him.
He bowed the heavens, and came down;
thick darkness was under His feet.
He rode on a cherub, and flew;
He came swiftly upon the wings of the wind….
He reached from on high, He took me,
He drew me out of many waters. Portions of Psalm 18

THAT is what happens when we call upon God for help. All of the power of heaven is sent.

God’s joy is to hear our voices requesting His help. Our part is to cling to Him with all of our might and cooperate with Him one step at a time until we are free!

Heavenly Father, HELP! If I don’t seem to need help right now, I know that I will in the future so I am asking for it right now and ahead of time. Please HELP me all of my days and nights until I am safely Home with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.